By request: ‘Aunt Cecil' Kessler

Published: Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 10, 2013 at 2:43 p.m.

Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing "Aunt Cecil" will agree that she was a rare person indeed. As school librarian, she defied stereotype.

Mrs. Cecil (Shepherd) Kessler's only son, Ridley, who was several classes behind me, followed in his mother's footsteps and, like her, became a librarian of distinction. Ridley is now deceased.

Fred Roper (HHS Class of '56) went on to become a distinguished (award-winning) professor of library science, first at UNC-Chapel Hill and later at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Cecil Kessler was his mentor.

Mrs. Kessler attended Hendersonville schools and graduated from Radford College in Virginia with a degree in history. She taught in Virginia, at Fassifern School for Girls and, before her marriage, taught history for a year at Hendersonville High School.

She returned to teaching nine years later during World War II, when there was a shortage of teachers, and taught at Edneyville and Flat Rock high schools. She attended Furman University, Appalachian College, Radford and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in fulfilling requirements as librarian.

On May 26, 1981, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Often loud, she had an infectious laugh that was uniquely her own. She gave tirelessly in her love of books — bringing to students the joy of reading. As one person said, "She was a support person, a connection between the student and books."

I will always remember her funeral at St. James Church. I could not control my tears. I convulsed in grief. "Aunt Cecil" meant so much to so many. I was just one. Her nephew, Robert Fain, conducted the service and gave the eulogy. Only a few times has my sorrow seemed to come from the innermost part of my being.

But my thoughts now turn to happier times — to a summer in the mid-'60s.

Aunt Cecil and I were on a trip to Europe to visit former exchange students.

Karen Oeking had been an exchange student while I was away at Chapel Hill. My visit to Lugano (Switzerland) was four years later, after I had returned home to teach.

I remember it was the perfect summer vacation. Aunt Cecil and I spent several weeks touring the British Isles. Being a librarian, she wanted to visit all the bookstores. Also, of particular joy, were the visits to cathedrals and churches — St. Paul's, Westminster, Canterbury. Each one provided a special experience.

Once when we were traveling by train (I do not remember where, exactly), Aunt Cecil was lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the train's movement. She didn't like "traveling backwards" so sat facing in the direction the train was traveling. I sat across from her. From where I sat, I could observe her chin getting lower and lower until it finally rested on her chest — but only briefly. She would quickly lift her head, steal a look my way, and smile. "It seems stuffy in here," she would say.

As the train sped along toward our destination, small balls of soot began coming through the window, which had been lowered slightly "to get air." As I watched, I noticed little soot balls starting to collect on the brim of the practical hat she had bought for travel. Then small pellet-like fragments of soot attached to the lines of her face.

Just as I was about to close the window, she revived and in her characteristic way ran her hand across her face, then settled back in comfort. What she did not know was that she had smeared the soot across her face. Most of one side of her cheek and across her nose were black.

I woke her up to tell her what had occurred during her nap time.

She opened her purse and pulled out a hand mirror. When she spied herself in the mirror, she let out a hoot. We both laughed.

Long after, I would laugh out loud as I remembered my dear friend and her "sooty" face.

A native of Henderson County, Cecil Kessler's family established Thomas Shepherd Funeral Home. Her interest in history and genealogy enhanced her interest in the cultural background of mountain people. Her sister "Tommy" was married to historian James T. Fain Jr.

<p>Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing "Aunt Cecil" will agree that she was a rare person indeed. As school librarian, she defied stereotype. </p><p>Mrs. Cecil (Shepherd) Kessler's only son, Ridley, who was several classes behind me, followed in his mother's footsteps and, like her, became a librarian of distinction. Ridley is now deceased. </p><p>Fred Roper (HHS Class of '56) went on to become a distinguished (award-winning) professor of library science, first at UNC-Chapel Hill and later at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Cecil Kessler was his mentor.</p><p>Mrs. Kessler attended Hendersonville schools and graduated from Radford College in Virginia with a degree in history. She taught in Virginia, at Fassifern School for Girls and, before her marriage, taught history for a year at Hendersonville High School.</p><p>She returned to teaching nine years later during World War II, when there was a shortage of teachers, and taught at Edneyville and Flat Rock high schools. She attended Furman University, Appalachian College, Radford and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in fulfilling requirements as librarian. </p><p>On May 26, 1981, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.</p><p>Often loud, she had an infectious laugh that was uniquely her own. She gave tirelessly in her love of books — bringing to students the joy of reading. As one person said, "She was a support person, a connection between the student and books."</p><p>I will always remember her funeral at St. James Church. I could not control my tears. I convulsed in grief. "Aunt Cecil" meant so much to so many. I was just one. Her nephew, Robert Fain, conducted the service and gave the eulogy. Only a few times has my sorrow seemed to come from the innermost part of my being. </p><p>But my thoughts now turn to happier times — to a summer in the mid-'60s.</p><p>Aunt Cecil and I were on a trip to Europe to visit former exchange students.</p><p>Karen Oeking had been an exchange student while I was away at Chapel Hill. My visit to Lugano (Switzerland) was four years later, after I had returned home to teach. </p><p>I remember it was the perfect summer vacation. Aunt Cecil and I spent several weeks touring the British Isles. Being a librarian, she wanted to visit all the bookstores. Also, of particular joy, were the visits to cathedrals and churches — St. Paul's, Westminster, Canterbury. Each one provided a special experience. </p><p>Once when we were traveling by train (I do not remember where, exactly), Aunt Cecil was lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the train's movement. She didn't like "traveling backwards" so sat facing in the direction the train was traveling. I sat across from her. From where I sat, I could observe her chin getting lower and lower until it finally rested on her chest — but only briefly. She would quickly lift her head, steal a look my way, and smile. "It seems stuffy in here," she would say. </p><p>As the train sped along toward our destination, small balls of soot began coming through the window, which had been lowered slightly "to get air." As I watched, I noticed little soot balls starting to collect on the brim of the practical hat she had bought for travel. Then small pellet-like fragments of soot attached to the lines of her face. </p><p>Just as I was about to close the window, she revived and in her characteristic way ran her hand across her face, then settled back in comfort. What she did not know was that she had smeared the soot across her face. Most of one side of her cheek and across her nose were black. </p><p>I woke her up to tell her what had occurred during her nap time.</p><p>She opened her purse and pulled out a hand mirror. When she spied herself in the mirror, she let out a hoot. We both laughed. </p><p>Long after, I would laugh out loud as I remembered my dear friend and her "sooty" face. </p><p>A native of Henderson County, Cecil Kessler's family established Thomas Shepherd Funeral Home. Her interest in history and genealogy enhanced her interest in the cultural background of mountain people. Her sister "Tommy" was married to historian James T. Fain Jr.</p>